Global Discussion of Confederation Nations Cups [R]

Quarter Finals

Senegal 1 Mali 0
Morocco 2 Cameroon 0
Nigeria 2 Algeria 0

Nigeria completely dominated Algeria, score could have been 4-0. They are getting better every single game.

 

January 10, 2026:

*Egypt 3–2 Ivory Coast*

*Qualified to the WC
+Still alive

 

Very disappointing for CIV.

Their habit of being casual and sloppy, usually against weaker opponents strikes again.

 

I didn't watch the Egypt - CIV game. Did Egypt finally played good or CIV played terrible?

My current prediction is a Senegal vs Nigeria final

 

I'd say Egypt coach studied CIV well and saw they have a tendency to be casual and sloppy when playing "perceived weaker teams"

They pressed them early forced a turnover and scored within 10 minutes.

CIV mostly dominated play with Egypt sitting back. Egypt scored another on a corner, and another quick counter attack. They sat back and frustrated CIV.

Egypt weren't great but they had a gameplan and carried it out effectively.

CIV were sloppy and paid the price.

I cannot see Egypt beating Senegal.

I never would have thought Nigeria could beat Morocco before the tournament started, but I think its very possible.

I give that semi final a 50/50 chance of either side winning.

 

Morocco hasn't been that impressive during the whole tournament, besides the Cameroon game where they completely nullified Cameroon imo.

Nigeria has been the best performing team in the tournament. I expected them to beat Algeria but I didn't expect them to completely anhilate them on the field.

Can't wait to see their match.

On another note, I noticed that Morocco has been struggling with teams that park the bus against them and while they have been getting results, they do look frustated. Scotland is basically a better version of that kind of teams so this add a little spice to their world cup match.

 

Yeah Nigeria has been the best team.

We beat Tunisia 3-2 but that scoreline was deceiving as we totally dominated them.

Then did the same to a much more impressive Algeria. I too was surprised not by the result, but by the ease.

As for Morocco, yeah they always struggle against low block sides. I have already stated they may struggle against Scotland, but I am banking on Scotland not totally parking the bus and attacking more than some of the teams Morocco has played at afcon.

 

Semi finals

Senegal 1 Egypt 0

Morocco 0 Nigeria 0

Morocco win on penalties

The final I predicted has manifested.

 

COMO ATAJÓ ESTE PENAL BONO, NO TIENE SENTIDO!!!! pic.twitter.com/uDKaqOAvxi

— Nahuel Lanzón (@nahuelzn) January 14, 2026

 

AFCON - 3rd Place Match - January 17, 2026:

*Egypt 0–0 (2–4 in penalties) Nigeria AET

*Qualified to the WC
+Still alive

 

Morocco 0 Senegal 1 AET

What a game. Senegal without 3 of their starters go and win in Morocco.

Brahim Diaz misses a PK in the final seconds of regulation time.

Senegal was the better team, but it was a close match.

This is the 2nd AFCON in a row I have predicted the winner.

 

That penalty miss was brutal

 

It was. But it's poetic justice IMO.

I thought the PK was a little soft. There was contact but he went down way too easy. And minutes earlier Senegal had a goal called off, where rhe defender went down too easy.

I thought Senegal was better overall.

 

Morocco has a serious lack of firepower up front. After conceding they didn't really have much idea what to do against the senegal low block. When taking the ball to 3/4 they couldn't find any good pass between lines and ended up either giving it to Hakimi to cross or simply losing possession.

 

There have been allegations of cheating against Morocco throughout this tournament. Before the final they wouldn't even provide Senegal with a private training pitch and made them walk though a crowded airport with no security. Numerous dodgy decisions in their favour throughout the tournament and then during the final. What pressure were the officials put under, did they even feel safe?

Here are the subs and ball boys trying to steal the Senegal goalkeeper's towel in the pouring rain. Disgusting.

https://xcancel.com/Harmless12345/status/2013141382781620578#m

Crowd disturbances following the controversial penalty decision. Can't pin all the blame here from limited evidence. Some blame has to go to the climate of cheating created by Morocco.

https://xcancel.com/Harmless12345/status/2013008528064065904#m

As Morocco clearly has no shame in cheating on the international stage and no pride in appearing fair they shouldn't host matches in 2030.

 

I agree and I think Senegal deserved to win overall.

The only thing I didn’t like was Senegal walking off the pitch. I worry that other teams might start doing the same whenever a VAR decision or a referee call don’t go into their way. Still, I can understand their frustration of having a goal (wrongly imo) disallowed and then almost immediately getting a penalty called against is nuts.

On another note, had the AFCON been played before the world cup draw, the only change in the pots would have been swapping Morocco and Germany in pots 1 & 2. All the other qualified african teams would have stayed in the same pot (albeit in a higher positision).

Egypt and Algeria would have been a few points away of being in Pot 2 territorty.

 

I agree the walk out could set a bad precedent.

However the PK (very soft but probably legit) was not in isolation.

The Senegalese were not given proper training facilities, sub standard hotel once they switched to the city of the final, made to walk without security, 3 players allegedly poisoned, ball boys and even Moroccon players continually stealing the goalkeepers towel, then the disallowed goal.

In the run-up to the match there was the horrific refereeing in the machine between Nigeria and Morocco where every 50/50 call was given to Morocco.

They essentially tried to buy their first AFCON in like 50 years, and everyone is seeing it.

The thing is Morocco is a really good team that doesn't need to resort to these kind of tactics.

 

Morocco assaulted Senegal player, Yehvann Diouf, over a towel in the AFCON Final! 👀💀 pic.twitter.com/QqDNLqkQWV

— Krrish (@KrrishFT) January 19, 2026

 

Morocco deserve punishment more than Senegal. What would have happened had Senegal stayed on the pitch? Likely Morocco and their cheating would have won (who knows if the penalty would have been scored but even if it hadn't acquiescing to the situation would have emboldened further cheating). In my view a worse precedent to set than Senegal walking off. There is a good argument that Senegal would have been more justified in walking off earlier due to the towel thievery. Especially as that had occurred in previous matches.

Referees make mistakes. Even with VAR. A lot of rules are down to interpretation so it is inevitable that there will be disagreements over some decisions. Since the implementation of VAR you do not see referees blowing their whistle for a foul whilst the ball is in the six yard box. That is very suspect and removed the possibility of VAR allowing the Senegal goal.

The next team that plays Morocco should put a pile of towels next to their goal. Those people that have been suggesting Morocco will host the 2030 World Cup final will surely now change their minds.

Congratulations to Senegal, they deserved it. The winning goal was brilliant. To hit it with that power and precision whilst stretching was impressive.